Table and bench assembly



Aug. 6, 1963 Filed Sept. 26. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR IVAN J. BARTO J wel ATTO RN EY 6, 1963 1. J. BARTO 3,100,127

TABLE AND BENCH ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 26. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR IVAN J. BARTO BY J w TTORNEY 3,100,127 TABLE AND BENCH ASSEMBLY Ivan J. Barto, River Road, Madison, Ohio Filed Sept. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 58,353 1 Claim. (Cl. 297-157) This invention relates to an article of furniture and more specifically to a table and bench assembly which is so arranged that the table is supported by overhead means and thus is devoid of leg members.

Such an article of furniture may be used either indoors or outdoors. This table and bench assembly is a highly decorative as well as a fundamentally useful article which may be used indoors in any breakfast nook, dining room, recreation room or kitchen. For outdoor use, this table and bench assembly may be quickly and easily dismantled, moved and reassembled in any desired location.

An object of this invention is to provide an article of furniture comprising a compact, unitary assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a table and bench assembly such that the table requires no downwardly extending leg members, but rather, is rigidly supported by overhead members.

It is (another object of this invention to provide a table and bench assembly consisting of sections which may be easily and quickly dismantled for storage or transporting to another location.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of the table and bench assembly of the invention:

FIG. 2 is an end view of the assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows one modification in which the tie bar is replaced by a cabinet unit.

FIG. 4 is a second modification showing a utility shelf positioned above the table.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the assembly of this invention comprises a table supported by X members 12 and 14 suspended from overhead bars 16 and 18. The overhead bars 16 and 18 are supported by upright members 20 and 22. Seat members 24 and 26 are attached to and supported at the ends by upright members 20 and 22 as are back rests 28 and 30. Leg members 32 and 34 provide rigidity for the centers of seat members 24 and 26 as well as being extremely useful in assembling the article of furniture as will be more fully explained later. Tie bar 36 is attached to overhead bars 16 and 18 for added rigidity.

In order to provide a light-weight structure of maximum strength, upright members 20- and 22, overhead members 16 and 18, tie bar 36 and X members 12 and 14 are preferably made of tubular material such as, for example, aluminum tubing. Upright members 20 and 22 may be provided with foot members 38 although, if desired, casters or glides may be used equally as well. If foot members are desired, they may be provided with proj ections which will engage the interior of the upright members. Upright members 20 and 22 are preferably provided with necked-down portions 40 and 42 of suitable diameter to provide a snug fit in the hollow interior of the ends of overhead members 16 and 18. In this manner, the need for screws or other fastening means for attaching the overhead member to the upright members is ob viated. It may be observed, particularly from FIG. 2 that upright members 20 and 22 together with overhead member 16 form an end member which is substantially that of an inverted U.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, table member 10 is suspended from overhead members 16 and 18 by means of supporting X members 12 and 14. These 3, 1 l 27 Phtented Aug. 6, 1963 supporting members may be attached to the overhead members by threaded studs 44 and wing nuts 46 or by any other suitable fastening means. The supporting members may also be attached to the table member by bolts 47 and wing nuts 48 or other suitable fastening means. If desired, the supporting members 12 and 14 may be replaced by parallel vertical bars, scroll work, a flat member or other suitable suspending means. By suspending the table member from the overhead bars, no legs extending from the underside of the table to the floor are necessary. Absence of legs for the table affords greater access to the space under the table for cleaning and also providm greater ease of ingress and egress to the benches.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, has only one tie bar 36; parallel bars, crossed bars or other means may be employed to provide the desired rigidity to the upper part of the assembly. The tie bar may be attached to the overhead members by means of threaded studs 50 and wing nuts 52 or other suitable means.

Seat members 24 and 26 and back rests 28 and 30 are shown in FIG. 1 as being separate parts, however, if so desired, seat member 24 and back rest 28 may be fashioned as a unitary member. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the seat members and back rests are attached to upright members 20 and 22 by means of headed studs 54 and 56, projecting rearwardly from the seat members and back rests, respectively, which fit into keyhole-shaped slots 58 and 59 in the upright members. Bolts and nuts or other fastening means may be used instead of the headed studs and keyhole slots.

Bench members 24 and 26 and back rests 28 and 30 are illustrated as flat members which may be made of Wood or metal. This type of construction is especially desired if the table and bench assembly of this invention is to be used outdoors or it is anticipated that the assembly may be frequently dismantled, transported in an automobile and reassembled. Such frequent dismantling and reassembling may be encountered if the assembly is used for picnics or excursions. If, on the contrary, the article of furniture is to be used primarily indoors, the bench members and back rests may be upholstered, and fitted with springs, rubber or plastic foam or other padding for greater comfort and beauty. The bench members are preferably provided with leg members 32 and 34 which are so attached to the undersides of the benches that they may be easily and quickly swung from an operative position, as shown, to a position lying flat against the underside of the bench.

While it is not intended that the upright members and overhead members be restricted to any particular height, it is preferred that the overhead member be of such a height that a tall adult may easily assume a sitting position on the bench without danger of bumping his head.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of the assembly wherein a cabinet unit 60* replaces the tie bar. The cabinet may have doors 62 and 64 on opposite sides so that its contents are accessible from either side of the table. If desired, the cabinet may be provided with open shelves 66 and 68. The cabinet unit may be attached to the overhead members by threaded studs 70 and wing nuts 72 and bracket 74 or other suitable means and is convenient for storing table utensils within easy reach of one seated at the table.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second modification of this invention wherein a shelf unit 76 is positioned a suitable distance above and parallel to the table. The shelf unit, for convenience, may be attached to the supporting X members by threaded studs 78 and wing nuts 80 or by other suitable fastening means. Such a shelf is useful for placing within reach of those seated at the table such items as serving dishes, condiments, etc.

.tached to the upright members.

If desired, the various members of theassemb1y may be permanently attached to adjacent members, however, for maximum utility it is preferred that the members be such that they. may be quickly and easilyassembled and dismantled. When dismantled the members will comprise a compact package for-transporting. For greater :convenience in storing or moving, table 10 may be hinged longitudinally along its centerfor. folding. v

In assembling the various members, the bench mem- -bers are first erected by swinging the leg members to the position shown in the drawings. The end members are nextassembled by inserting the necked-down portions of -theupright members into the hollow ends of the overhead members. If foot members are desired they are also at- Each end member is then placed in its proper position and, since the bench member is in:its approximate final position, ,the end of the bench ,is easily raised suificienty to engage the headed studs in the 1 appropriate keyhole shaped slots. pea-ted so that thebenches are attached to both of the end members. ;,end.members and then attach the back rests by engaging This procedure is re- It is next desirable to attach the tie bar to the the headed studs in the appropriate keyhole shaped slots. The supporting X members arethen attached to the overhead members and the table attached to the opposite ends of thesupporting members, By following the suggested .procedure, the article of furniture may be quickly and easily assembled by one person. I v

The table and bench assembly ofthis invention may be provided with a tentelike covering for protection against sun and inclement weather when used outdoors.

' The cover maybe shaped to drape over the end mem- ,bers and at the sides it may extend to the seats or to the ground as desired. The ends may also be provided with closing flaps which can be opened for entrance.

- From the foregoing it will be seen that the presentinventionprov-ides a noveltable and bench assembly which isequally useful and serviceable indoors and outdoors.

While this invention has beendescribed and illustrated by the foregoing description and drawings, it is not intended to be strictly limited thereto and other modifications and variations may be employed within the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is: An article of furniture comprising end members of substantially inverted U-shaped configuration, each of said end members including upright members and an overhead member, bench members and back rests rem'ovably attached to and extending horizontally between adjacent upright members by easily detachable fastening means, said bench members and back rests respectively being attached to each upright member by at least two of said detachable fastening means, a tie barextending between and removably attachedto said overhead members, supporting dualbar X members removab'ly attached to and extending downwardly from said overhead members and removably attached at their lower ends to a table member,

said table member being positioned between said bench members and being devoid of downwardly extending legs thecombination of attachment of the bench member and backrest to each upright member :by at least two fastening .means respectively together with the dual-bar X members supporting the table member providing a self-supporting, rigid table and bench assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 894,706 

